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National Situation Update: Monday, June 15, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest: The Plains to the mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys will see showers and storms today, with the storms moving to the northern Plains and upper-Mississippi Valley to the Ohio Valley on Tuesday. Excessive rain in the lower Midwest could trigger flash flooding.
South:  A frontal boundary extending from northern Arkansas and the Tennessee Valley to the Carolinas will bring storms to the region today.  There will be more thunderstorms from Oklahoma southward into west Texas with the chance for severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rain in the region. Florida will continue to see isolated thunderstorms, especially this afternoon into evening. Much of this region will see highs in the 90s with some 100s in southern and western parts of Texas.
Northeast:  Virginia northward to eastern Pennsylvania, New York, and New England will see scattered shower and thunderstorm activity. Hail or locally gusty winds are also possible.
West:  A trough of low pressure will bring more showers and thunderstorms from Oregon and northern California to the high plains of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. The Northwest will see locally heavy rain and some of the storms in Colorado could be severe.

Russian Volcano Eruption

Peak Sarychev volcano in the Kuril Islands continues to erupt and is emitting ash plumes up to 26,000 feet above the crater rim or 54,000 feet above sea level. The Aviation Color Code is RED. U.S. based commercial air carriers have diverted back to Anchorage, AK but there has been no negative impact to Anchorage Center. Peak Sarychev is located closer to the Japanese Islands than to any U.S. territory. (DHS/NOC, USGS)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
No activity.  (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  1
National Fire Activity as of Sunday, June 14 2009:

  • Initial attack activity:  Light (64 new fires)
  • New large fires:  3
  • Large fires contained:  2
  • Uncontained large fires:  8
  • States affected:  AK, AZ & NM. 
     (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 15-Jun-2009 07:54:19 EDT